Shell Egg Grader- Great Falls

Munro Footwear Group; Great Falls (MT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Coverage

Paid vacation, sick leave and Holidays

Opportunities for professional growth

Job summary

Department of Livestock in Great Falls is seeking a Shell Egg Grader to perform physical and visual inspections of eggs, monitor processing operations, and prepare reports. The role involves adherence to USDA grading standards and requires teamwork with plant management.

Minimum education is a high school diploma with two years of livestock industry experience. The position is full-time, on-site with weekend hours as needed and a strong emphasis on ethics and reliability.

Qualifications

• The necessary knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of high school and;
• Two years' experience in the livestock industry.
• Since this is a regulatory position special emphasis is placed on the incumbent’s past work history to include demonstrated reliability and high standards of ethics and conduct on the job.
• Other combinations of education, certifications and experience may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

Responsibilities

• Performs physical and visual inspection of eggs.
• Monitors egg plant processing operations.
• Prepares and maintains reports and records.
• As an employee of the Department of Livestock, this position must maintain relationships with plant management and employees.

Skills

Hand Candling

Egg inspection

Report writing

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Job Description - Shell Egg Grader- Great Falls (26142320)

Position Title:

Shell Egg Grader- Great Falls - ( 26142320 )

To be considered for Department of Livestock positions, applicants must apply and submit any required application materials through the State Of Montana Careers Website at Statecareers.mt.gov.

This recruitment is posted as 'open until filled' with a first review of applicants on September 18, 2026.

Materials Required of Applicants:

• Resume
• References: Professional references will be requested from finalist applicants prior to a job offer being made, however, are not required as part of the application process at this time.

About this Opportunity!

This position is a full-time Department of Livestock,Egg Shell Grader that will perform necessary inspection services at the Wilcox Farms/ Montana Egg, LLC plant in Great Falls, Montana. This position will be required to work a minimum of 40 hours per week; however, hours may be increased as needed to provide coverage and services.

The incumbent is responsible for grading shell egg products in the assigned facility.Egg grading is the grouping of eggs into lots having similar characteristics as to quality, weight or color. The incumbent will take sample grades of eggs to determine if the eggs are eligible to be packed in cartons bearing the USDA grade shield. Voluntary egg grading and certification services are administered by the Poultry Programs, Grading Branch of USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Services. Grading and certification is performed by USDA-licensed graders.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the United States is the largest producer and exporter of eggs and egg products. Grading according to USDA uniform standards and certification will aide Montana egg producers in the marketing and distribution of their product.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Performs physical and visual inspection of eggs.
• Monitors egg plant processing operations.
• Prepares and maintains reports and records.
• As an employee of the Department of Livestock, this position must maintain relationships with plant management and employees.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

WORK HOURS are non-standard (Working Saturdays and some Holidays may be required on occasion as well as up 10-11 hour shifts as needed by plant production levels and may be changed at times due to business needs . Egg grading work requires periods of physical exertion to lift and move boxes and cartons of products often weighing over 50 pounds; prolonged periods of standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing; two hands for shell egg assignments to perform digital examination of eggs; ability to detect abnormalities in the commodity through normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance, depth perception, and color; and ability to assure safety in highly-mechanized noisy environment through adequate or correctable hearing. Hand Candling is a required skill which includes the physical ability and dexterity to hold two eggs in each hand rotating and observing the eggs rapidly. Adequate color vision is required. The work environment is in a shell egg facility which involves moderate discomforts and risks such as cold temperatures of storage areas, the presence of processing equipment, moving parts and forklifts, and wet, slippery floors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• The incumbent must demonstrate the emotional maturity and communication skills to maintain relationships and deal with plant management, employees and the general public in a regulatory capacity.
• The willingness and ability to complete work independently and without supervision.
• Ability to effectively use standard office equipment, programs and computers.
• Ability to accurately fill out reports.

(The following skills are generally acquired on the job).

Working knowledge of the standards of quality, accuracy in interpreting quality standards and the ability to judge correct grade classification. Graders will make many grading decisions each day and must develop an ability to make instant decisions. An understanding of the how Hand Candling Booths work in commercial grading operations. Ability to perform hand candling with speed and accuracy as a spot check for quality determination. Successful completion of approved USDA training course and passing all USDA – Licensed Egg Grader testing and certification requirements is required.

Reasons to work for the Montana Department of Livestock:Our work matters! We are proud of the work we do, to find out more about the Department of Livestock visit our website HERE .

Benefits of working for the Department of Livestock: The ability to workand playin the beautiful state of Montanais one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Other fantastic benefits include:

• Health Coverage
• Paid vacation, sick leave and Holidays
• Opportunities and room for professional growth

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• The necessary knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of high school and;
• Two years' experience in the livestock industry.
• Since this is a regulatory position special emphasis is placed on the incumbent’s past work history to include demonstrated reliability and high standards of ethics and conduct on the job.
• Other combinations of education, certifications and experience may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

Preferred Qualifications: Direct experience providing egg inspection services in a regulatory environment is preferred.

Required Within 6 Weeks of Hire: Applicant must have successful completion of USDA training courses and passing all USDA – Licensed Egg Grader testing and certification requirements is required.

*Effective March 30, 2026, this agency participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/ .

Applicant Pool Statement : If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment : This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary: $

27.94 - 27.94 Hourly Telework Eligibility : Not Telework Eligible Benefits Package Eligibility : Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings

1

Employee Status

Regular

Schedule

Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Travel

No

Primary Location

Great Falls

Other Locations

Cascade, Ulm, Sun River, Vaughn

Agency

Department of Livestock

Union

000 - None

Posting Date

Sep 11, 2026, 10:28:50 PM

Closing Date

Ongoing

Required Application Materials

Cover Letter, Resume

Contact

Name: Human Resources | Email: [e-mail] | Phone: [phone]

Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.